Sutphin Fountain

Sutphin Fountain is a water feature and sculpture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art composed of 352 white granite blocks arranged in a circular formation. Water shoots upward through multiple jets and cascades back into the central basin below.

The work was designed in 1972 by artist Stuart O. Dawson to commemorate the museum's second anniversary at its new location. Its construction marked a milestone in the institution's early years in its current home.

The fountain serves as a gathering point where visitors pause to watch the water and enjoy the surroundings. People naturally gravitate to this spot to sit and take in the space around them.

The fountain is freely accessible during the day and operates in good weather. It is best visited in the evening hours when LED lights illuminate the water display.

Each granite block weighs around one ton and features carefully carved flat tops with fine vertical lines along the sides. These crafted details are not immediately obvious but they shape how light plays across the entire sculpture.

Location: Indianapolis

Inception: 1972

GPS coordinates: 39.82591,-86.18487

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:43